Means for propelling ships.



2 Sheets-8heat l.

Patented 020.10, [90L [Application filed July 29, 1901.)

R RICHARDS MEANSv FOR PROP ELLING SHIPS.

1 v N 1 V wi l. EEG-=1 E fi lm W E Q il MW (No Mpdel.) I

No. 688,692. Patented Dec. 10, I90l.

B. RICHARDS.

MEANS FOR PROPELLING SHIPS.

(Application filed July 29, 1901.)

(No Model? 2 Sheeis-8heet 2.

z5 a 3 25 J9 x 6 I a I I3 Z6 Swam 1?. R oluivhw/mc ayw/ 14, I k f Tm:mums PETERS co. rumaumo. msumnrom a c UNITE Srarns FFICE.

ATENT MEANS FOR PROPELLING SHIPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 688,692, dated December10, 1901. Application filed July 29, 1901. Serial No. 70,093. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it 117.60g, concern-.-

Be it known that I, RICHARD RICHARDS, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Mid way, in the county ofCrawford and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Means for Propelling Ships; and I do declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

The invention relates to means for propelling ships.

The object of the invention is to provide simple, durable, andinexpensive means for propelling ships by drawing into cylinders carriedby the ship a body of water, which is then violently forced out throughthe open ends of the cylinders against the surrounding body of water,thereby securing a great water resistance, in contradistinction to thepowers obtained by paddle-wheels and screwpropellers, which so churn thewater as to greatly lessen its resistance to the screw or paddles of thepropeller.

With this and other objects in View the invention consists of certainnovel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts,which will be hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointedout in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a boatillustrating my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view. Fig.3 is a cross-sectional view through the stern of the boat and the threecylinders arranged at that end, and Fig. 4 is a similar view amidshipsthrough the lubricating-conduits.

Referring to the drawings, 1 denotes the hull of a vessel to which myinvention is applied, and it may be divided into compartments 2, 3, and4 by partitions 5 and 6. Located in the bow of the vessel is a cylinder7, which projects entirely through the bow and has an open forward end.Arranged within the cylinder and adapted to reciprocate therein is apiston 8, which may be actuated by any suitable means, such means in thepresent instance being conventionally illustrated as consisting of apivoted lever; but of course i in a steamship construction the pistonwill derive its power from the engine.

9 denotes a gate-valve mounted to slide in guideways 10, secured to thebow of the vessel and operated by a screw-shaft 13, swiveled to theupper stem of the valve and working through a nut 14,- fixed to the bowof the vessel. By rotating this screw-shaft, which is provided with acrank 15, by means of which it may be manipulated, the gate-valve may becaused to raise or lower to open or close the open end of the forwardcylinder.

The cylinder placed at the bow of the vessel is designed for the purposeof backing the vessel out of harbors and other places, and when thevessel is moving forwardlythe movement of the piston is stopped bythrowing the machinery out of gear and the gate-valve closed to preventwater entering the open end of the cylinder.

16 denotes cylinders arranged on the outside of the hull of the vessel,at the stern thereof, and having rear open ends and provided withpistons 17, which are connected by links 18 to crank-wheels 19, fixed tothe ends of the driven crank-shaft 20 and located on the outer sides ofthe hull of the vessel.

21 denotes a cylinder arranged within the hull of the vessel and havingits open end extending through the stern of the vessel, and 22 denotes apiston Workin g in said cylinder and connected to the crank-shaft 20 bya link 23.

Each of the cylinders is provided with a gate-valve 24, similar inconstruction and operated substantially the same as the one hereinbeforedescribed, so that an extended description of said gate-valves is notthought to be necessary.

To protect the crank-wheels and links from the action of water orobstructions met with by the vessel, I provide shields 25, which extendfrom about the middle of the vessel to and entirely-inclose the forwardends of the side cylinders, so that it will be absolutely impossible forwater or obstructions to interfere with the movements of thecrank-wheels, links, and pistons.

Lubricating-conduits 26 may extend vertically along the sides of thehull and afiord access to the links and crank-wheels for the purpose ofoiling them or for repairing the ICC at the rear of the vessel, and,owing to the fact that they work in alternation as the vessel isproceeding on its course through the water, it is evident that eachpiston forces the water from its cylinder against the solid mass ofwater at the rear of the cylinder and not against foam and water of achnrny unstable character. It will of course be under.- stood that whenthe piston at the bow of the ship is in action and the vessel is backingout of the harbor or other place the gate-valves at the rear end of thestern-cylinders will be closed, so as to prevent water from enteringsaid cylinders and tending to impede the progress of the vessel.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection With'theaccompanying drawings,

the construction, mode of operation, and advantages of the inventionwill be readily understood without requiring a more extendedexplanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and details of constructionmaybe made within the scope of the invention without departing from thespirit or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a vessel provided with cylinders on its oppositesides open at their rear ends, of pistons arranged to reciprocate insaid cylinders, an engine carried by the vessel, operative mechanismlocated at the sides of the vessel and connectingthe engine with thepistons, and shields secured to the sides of the vessel and taperingrearwardly and covering and protecting the operative mechanismconnections at the sides of the vessel, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with a vessel provided with cylinders on its oppositesides, open at their rear ends, of pistons arranged to recip-.

rocate in said cylinders, an engine carried by the vessel, operativemechanism located at the sides of the vessel and connecting the enginewith the pistons, shields secured to the sides of the vessel andtapering rearwardly and covering and protecting the operative mechanismconnections at the sides of the vessel, and lubricating-conduits leadingdownwardlyinto and communicating with the interior of said shields,substantially as set forth. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my.hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

RICHARD RICHARDS.

WVitnesses:

GEORGE SnoUP, JOHN WILLIAMS.

